Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has received a complaint that
Daniel Sturridge was racially abused during a Champions League game by a fan of the club.

A Chelsea fan claims that another shouted ‘they are bringing on the monkeys’ as Sturridge prepared to come on as a 66th-minute substitute against Genk, the Daily Mail reported.

Chelsea are investigating a complaint that Daniel Sturridge was racially abused by a Blues fan (PA)

The away game in Belgium hit the news when Chelsea fans were heard to be chanting about Anton Ferdinand , following his allegation that John Terry racially abused him in a bad-tempered west London derby at Loftus Road.

Gourlay received the Sturridge complaint via email from a Chelsea fan who had been sitting nearby and who described the perpetrator as a well-dressed, middle-aged man.

The allegation also claims the shout came from an area of seating reserved for executive club members and sponsors.

A club spokesman said: ‘We have had a new complaint from a fan that we are taking very seriously indeed. We are carrying out an immediate investigation led by our head of security that is likely to involve the police as well.’

The 22-year-old is expected to make his England debut against Sweden at Wembley after impressing on loan at Bolton last season and keeping Fernando Torres out of Andre Villas-Boas’ side during this campaign.